Table of Contents

Introduction

Part One: From birth to big school (0 to 5 years)
1 A window to the world: How your baby hears music in everything
2 The power of lullaby: Why your baby responds to music
3 The endless song: Why your toddler just won't stop singing
4 Beat baby: How your toddler connects beat to body
5 I see, I say: Getting your child ready to read with music
6 School ready: How music helps children prepare for big school

Part Two: The first few years of school (5 to 7 years)
7 The music of language: An overlapping network
8 Connecting the dots: Why keeping a beat is vital for reading
9 The social soup: How music helps your child learn control
10 Sound symbols: Why reading words is a process of reading music
11 Just pay attention: How music stretches each child's attention span
12 Comfortable with discomfort: How music teaches your child to love frustration
13 Spring-cleaning your brain: How music helps brain wiring

Part Three: Bridging the gap between childhood and adolescents (9 to 12-14 years)
14 Confidence is king: How music feeds confidence
15 Wrong more than right: How music teaches persistence
16 Born leader: How music brings out leadership in children
17 I do, I understand: How music supercharges your child's memory

Part Four: Almost an adult (12-14 years to adult)
18 Managing it all: How music helps children with balance
19 Seeking out the new: How music teaches children to crave new things
20 Calm thyself: Using music to enhance study and manage stress
21 Beyond school: How music learning is the gift that keeps on giving

Afterword
Acknowledgements
Index

About the Author

Anita Collins PhD is an award-winning music teacher and researcher in brain development and music learning. She wrote one of the most-watched TED Education films ever made and appeared on the ABC TV series, Don't Stop the Music. Anita is music teacher and conductor at Canberra Grammar School, and Associate Fellow of Music, Mind and Wellbeing at the University of Melbourne.

Reviews

'All kids benefit from music. The Music Advantage not only shows you how, it shows you why. This book is important for our future.' - Victor L. Wooten, author of The Music Lesson

"A must-read for every parent and teacher."-John Powell, author of How Music Works

'The Music Advantage is the book I always wanted to exist, and now it does! It reveals new insights, showing the power and magic that music has on the neurological wellbeing and development of children, and all of us.' - Stephon Alexander, Ph.D., author of The Jazz of Physics and Professor of Physics, Brown University

'Two decades of neuroscientific and psychological research into the effects of learning music on our brains are condensed into a highly readable, fascinating, and important book. Important because the overwhelming evidence is that music education will benefit every child-and thus it should be part of their overall education.' - Loudmouth magazine

'Shows the value of music education on brain development and includes practical tips for harnessing melody and rhythm to increase learning in all areas.' - Library Journal

'The Music Advantage is a "must read" for every teacher and parent!' - Dr Bruce Pearson, music educator, author and composer